ARC Clean Technology and KHNP Advance Collaboration on Fourth-Generation Small Modular Reactor
ARC Clean Technology and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power are deepening their partnership to accelerate the deployment of advanced small modular reactor technology, with a focus on the ARC-100 reactor and potential global market expansion.
Nuclear technology developers ARC Clean Technology and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) have expanded their collaborative efforts to advance fourth-generation small modular reactor (SMR) deployment. During a recent meeting in Seoul, the companies reaffirmed their commitment to developing the ARC-100, a 100-megawatt sodium-cooled fast reactor designed for electricity generation and industrial heat applications.
The partnership, initially established through a trilateral agreement with New Brunswick Power in 2023, focuses on exploring fleet deployment opportunities and establishing comprehensive frameworks for reactor commissioning, operations, maintenance, and project management. The ARC-100 represents a significant advancement in nuclear technology, offering potential solutions for carbon-free energy production.
KHNP's CEO, Dr. Jooho Whang, emphasized the strategic importance of the collaboration, describing the ARC-100 as one of the most advanced fourth-generation SMR technologies approaching commercialization. The partnership aligns with KHNP's broader strategy to expand its global SMR capabilities beyond its existing pressurized water reactor technology.
ARC Clean Technology's ongoing development of the ARC-100 is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program. The current project at New Brunswick Power's Point Lepreau site involves a License to Prepare Site application submitted to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, signaling significant progress toward commercial demonstration.
This collaboration represents a critical step in advancing nuclear technology, potentially offering more flexible, safer, and more economical clean energy solutions. By combining ARC's innovative reactor design with KHNP's extensive nuclear operations expertise, the partnership could accelerate the development and global deployment of next-generation nuclear technologies.